Mine storing means in submarines of the single hull type



Aug. 22, 1933 M. F GUNNING MINE STORING MEANS IN SUBMARINES OF THE SINGLE HULL TYPE Filed Nov. 4, 1930 ymz x/ Patented Aug. 22, 1933 MINE STORING MEANS IN SUBMARINES OF THE SINGLE HULL TYPE Maximiliaan I Frederik Gunning, Flushing,

Netherlands, assignor to Naamlooze Vennootschap: Koninklijke Maatschappij De Schelde, Scheepsbouw-en Werktuigenfabrick, Flushing, Netherlands, a Corporation of the Netherlands Application November 4, 1930, Serial No. 493,368, a

and in the Netherlands December 31, 1929 3 Claims.

The invention relates to mine storing means in submarines of the single-hull type provided with at least one centrally and transversely arranged main ballast tank occupying the full or nearly the full section of the boat.

If the mines are simply deposited in the main ballast tank and are secured there, they are al ternatively wet and dry according as the submarine is proceeding below or above the watersurface. Although the mines may be inspected after each immersion this may lead to difiiculties.

According to the invention these drawbacks may be removed by providing the tank or tanks with pressure-proof cylinders or the like in each of which one or more mines may be arranged. Just before ejecting the mines these cylinders must be filled from filling tanks in a similar way as this is done with a torpedo tube. The compensation tanks further required may be combined with these filling tanks.

The ejecting of the mines takes place through valves or slides by which the bottoms of the cylinders are closed. Furthermore in the walls of the cylinders covers are arranged through which the mines are accessible.

Moreover besides the above mentioned pressure-proof cylinders the ballast tanks may be provided with other mounting means for mines.

Two embodiments of the invention are hereafter explained by the aid of the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a schematical cross section of an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematical longitudinal section of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of an embodiment as constructed in practice.

1 is the pressure-proof cylinders, in which the mines 2 are stored absolutely dry. In order to save hoisting-height the upper covers 3 of the cylinders have the full height of a mine and are placed on board the same time as the latter. The connection at 4 with the rigid part takes place by a flange or torpedo-closure.

If it is desired to carry along more mines than those for which space is available in the cylinders on making long cruises; the second one if a largest possible number of mines must be laid in a not too long distance from the base.

According to the embodiment of Fig. 3 the mines 2 are stored in the pressure-proof cylinders 1, which cylinders are arranged in the main ballast tank at each side of the runway '7. The mines remain dry not only when the submarine is proceeding at the surface but also when immersed. They can be ejected after the cylinders l have been filled with water from the filling tanks and the lower covers 6 in the bottom of the cylinders 1 have been opened by manipulating the well-known dropping gear.

Near each mine in the cylinder walls covers 8 can be arranged, through which the detonation charges may be placed on the mines.

I claim:

1. A submarine minelayer of the single-hull type, comprising means for storing mines, said means including superposed pressure-proof cylinders, in each one of which one or more mines may be stored, the superposed pressure-proof cylinders being connected by means of'watertight flanges. 8

2. A submarine minelayer of the single-hull type, comprising atleast one centrally and transversely arranged main ballast tank occupying substantially the full section of the boat and a plurality of vertically mounted pressure-proof mine storing cylinders positioned in said ballast tank and extending the full height of'the ballast tank.

3. A submarine minelayer of the single-hull type, comprising at least one centrally and transversely arranged main ballast tank occupying substantially the full section of the boat, a plurality of vertically mounted pressure-proof mine storing cylinders positioned in said ballast tank and extending through the upper and lower walls of the ballast tank and removable closures associated with the protruding upperand lower portions of the cylinders.

MAXIMILIAAN FREDERIK GUNNING.

they may be arranged in the places indicated by 5, and may be brought into the cylinders after the mines 2 have been ejected through the valves 6.

In order to facilitate this the covers 3 may be left ashore in which case all mines will be immersed when the boat is below the surface.

The first described method will be employed 

